Baking sourdough bread at just the right temperature is essential to making sure the finished product is chewy on the inside and perfectly browned on the outside. However, it’s also important to maintain a tight watch on the sourdough temp when it’s still dough, too.
It’s best to bake sourdough bread in the oven between 410°F (210°C) and 455°F (235°C) depending on the recipe. The dough temperature is also important in sourdough making and should be around 78°F(25°C).
It might seem silly to monitor dough temperature and the baking temperature, but that’s the only way to get your sourdough bread to come out just right. To learn more about sourdough temp, keep reading.
Sourdough Temp
As mentioned, it’s so very important to make sure your actual dough is at the right temp when making sourdough, in addition to the baking temperature. Below are some important things to keep in mind regarding the temperature of both sourdough dough and sourdough baking temperature.
Dough Temp: What to Know
As the dough’s temperature rises, the natural yeasts start to do their thing. This is how the natural fermentation process gets started and what sets sourdough apart from other breads. While other breads use quick yeast or even commercial yeast, sourdough relies on natural fermentation. This is how it gets the distinct sourdough flavor and texture.
Make sure your water isn’t too hot or cold when you make your dough. Keeping the dough right around 78 degrees Fahrenheit is a must. When you take the bread’s temperature, stick the thermometer in the center of the dough and make sure it doesn’t touch the bowl itself.
Sourdough Baking Temp: What to Know
Ovens are often inaccurate, and even when it indicates that it is at 482 Fahrenheit, it is usually not as hot as it tells you. Or, it might not be that hot.
Every oven is just a little different. Most home ovens do not get as hot as displayed on the knob. You want to ensure that you have an accurate temperature reading to bake your bread because sourdough is so temperature-dependent.
You will need to get a precise oven thermometer to gauge the temperature of your oven. Place it inside the range and preheat it to 455°F (235°C). Once it is preheated, pay attention to the temperature reading from the thermometer and compare it to the temperature setting on the oven.
If the oven thermometer corresponds with the temperature, it is accurate. If the thermometer reads lower than the oven temperature, increase the temperature. Lower it if it is higher. It is that simple.
Using a Dutch Oven to Monitor Sourdough Temp
When you use a Dutch oven for baking sourdough bread, you can achieve the perfect temp. The thick cast iron helps keep the temp consistent while baking.
A Dutch oven is also the choice baking method for baking sourdough because it gives off the steam required to spread the dough. Steam provides moisture, and the dough rises without the caveat of producing a rigid, undesirable crust. Steam is the key component when baking sourdough bread. You want the bread to be rich, moist, and fluffy, not dry, hard, and tasteless. A Dutch oven is the perfect tool to accomplish the task.
Here are the key characteristics that you can expect when baking sourdough in a Dutch oven:
- Crispy
- Flaky
- Moist
- Golden
When you use a Dutch oven for sourdough baking, simple sugar forms on the top of the bread, which justifies its sweetness. The crust creates a crisp, golden-brown color while making sure not to burn the bread.
The Truth About Baking Bread in a Regular Oven
Unlike in a Dutch oven, the conventional oven vents make it hard to keep the steam and moisture intact. The moist steam creates the perfect environment for the consistency of the bread to develop fully. Artisan bread is often baked in a Dutch oven with spectacular results.
Sourdough bread is supposed to have a unique and unmistakable texture. When it does not, it can be disappointing. Warm, soft bread results when you cook it in a Dutch oven. Conventional ovens do not always produce desirable results.
How To Make Sourdough Starter
You can make a sourdough starter by purchasing a sourdough starter kit from Amazon. However, if you want to make your own, you’ll need:
- One cup or four ounces of whole wheat or rye flour
- Warm water between 60- and 80 degrees Fahrenheit
- Unbleached all-purpose flour or bread flour
- One-quart clean glass jar
- Rubber spatula
- Dry and liquid measuring cups
It takes several days to get started. Put your whole wheat or rye flour in the clean jar and one-half cup of warm tap water at 60 to 80 degrees. When you mix it, it will look like a paste. The mixture will be thick.
Wait 24 hours
Loosely cover the lid with plastic wrap. Leave it on your counter for 24 hours. Now, measure two-thirds of a cup of starter and put it in a bowl. Then, get rid of leftovers in the jar. Put one cup of bread flour and half a cup of warm tap water and stir.
Ensure all the flour is incorporated when you stir, making a soft paste. Put the new mixture in the jar. Loosely cover it with plastic. Let sit for 24 hours. By the third day, the mixture should be bubbly, which means it is ready to stir.
Day 3 – 5
For days 3 through 5, feed it with flour. Mix to get rid of bubbles. Measure half a cup of starter and put it in a mixing bowl. Then, add one cup of bread flour and half a cup of warm water. Stir well. Let stand. After twelve hours, repeat the process every twelve hours for two days. It should be doubled in size.
Day 5 or 6
By day five or six, it is ready to use. It should smell pleasant. Feed it flour every twelve hours for one more day. If you bake it once a week or less, store it in the fridge, feed it flour, and let it sit at room temperature for three to four hours. Then, add it, bake it, and enjoy your creation! The hard work will be worth it!
Final Thoughts
The temp of sourdough dough is just as important as the temp while baking. Baking sourdough in a Dutch oven makes it a little easier to maintain a consistent temp while baking. Monitoring the temp throughout is a challenge, but homemade sourdough just can’t be beat. In other words, it’s well worth the hard work.